Johnny Depp is handling his split with Vanessa Paradis in typical Hollywood fashion — he’s stayed silent on the details — but RadarOnline.com has exclusively learned that he’s telling friends that he has a new lease on life and is finally looking forward to the future.

“Johnny has been saying that he is immensely relieved to finally be out of the relationship with Vanessa, he feels like the weight of the world is off his shoulders,” a source close to the actor exclusively tells RadarOnline.com.

“As they were splitting up and only those close to them knew about it Johnny was struggling with keeping his life hidden. He was out partying too much, friends were worried about his drinking and he was starting to get out of control. Once he and Vanessa admitted that their relationship was over he was able to loosen up and not wallow in misery.”

RadarOnline.com were the first to report, back in January, that Johnny and Vanessa were heading for a break-up, and our source says they actually split up in late 2011.

However, they waited to officially announce their separation until this spring.

“Johnny wants to move on with his life, he’s happy dating other women and he’s able to do so freely now,” the source says. “His relationship with Vanessa was so bad at the end and now he’s happy again. He’s relieved that it is over and he can move on.”